Travel down any interstate or highway in the state of Texas, and you will find a large number of tractor-trailers. These big rigs generally weigh over 50,000 pounds and have sophisticated air brake systems for both the tractor and the trailer. Nevertheless, an 18–wheeler takes longer to stop than a passenger car or […]
Jackknife accidents happen when the tractor travels at a different speed than the attached trailer. Because a big rig is what we call an articulated vehicle, changes in speed can quickly lead to a jacked up situation. The disparity in speed between the cab of the truck and the trailer can be […]
Although trucks and the trucking environment stand at a billion dollar industry, which is aided by the need to transport goods and services across the country, many should also consider the truck drivers themselves. According to research presented by the National Highway Safety Administration approximately 500,000 truck accidents occur annually in the United States. Many […]
The best advice for driving in dense fog is just don’t drive in it. Professional truck drivers are usually paid by the mile and are under enormous pressure to get their load delivered on time and pick up another one. This leads to driving under adverse conditions in an effort to make a paycheck. […]
The number of tractor-trailers using the highways in the state of Texas has increased substantially with the Eagle Ford Shale boom. While the increased production has benefited many landowners and holders of mineral interests, it has come at a price. The explosive growth and radical increase in the number of tractor-trailers has created a problem […]
One of the major causes of truck accidents is a big rig that is following too closely to the traffic in front of it. Failing to maintain an assured safe distance or “tailgating” is particularly dangerous with tractor-trailers.It is well known and verified in study after study that semi trucks take much longer than passenger […]
Almost everyone who has been driving for some time has faced a situation where a semi-truck is in the lane next to you and appears to have no regard for your vehicle when moving over and changing lanes. The situation is extremely distressing because of the disparity in size between the 80,000-pound tractor-trailer and your […]
Rear End Truck Wrecks A large percentage of semi-truck accidents occur because the truck driver fails to maintain a safe following distance, given the conditions on the roadway. It is no secret that 18-wheelers take much longer to stop than passenger car pickup trucks. For that reason, semi-trucks or tractor-trailers should follow a safe distance […]
Everyone has driven down a Texas highway and has been forced to avoid a semi truck hauling an “oversize load”. The reality is that oversize loads are dangerous to the truck driver and also to the general public. Texas has certain limitations in size and weight that, when exceeded, will require an oversized load permit. […]
Professional truck drivers while driving a big rig are statutorily precluded from using a mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle under certain conditions. The mobile telephone rule went into effect January 3, 2012. Despite its implementation in an effort to protect communities, truck drivers continue to violate the rules that apply to mobile […]
Big rigs are extremely susceptible to what is called a “jackknife,” where the tractor and attached trailer travel together but in separate directions at the same time. The main cause of this type of truck accident is the brake application on the part of the professional truck driver that causes the trailer to travel at […]
There’s an old saying, “there is no substitute for experience,” and that is certainly true in truck accident litigation. The reasons for the plaintiff’s and defense attorneys who practice truck accident litigation daily are crystal clear. Attorneys who defend truck accident cases know the attorneys who prosecute them and the expert witnesses who will be […]
There is no question that a big rig or a tractor – trailer takes much longer to stop than a passenger car or pickup truck. In fact, at highway speeds an 18-wheeler takes approximately 1/3 longer to come to a complete stop than a typical car. Variables such as the load and make up of […]
Some of the most important information about a truck wreck can come from the black box or event data recorder on most of the newer model 18 – Wheelers. Getting to the critical information before it is destroyed can be an important step by your legal representatives. Event data recorders typically show the speed of […]
The truth of the matter is that big rigs or semi trucks are so much larger and heavier than the other traffic on our Texas highways that an accident with a big rig is usually a very bad accident. A tractor can weigh up to 20,000 pounds without the trailer or a load. A tractor […]
When a small car or a pickup truck pulls in front of a big rig or semi-truck to move forward in traffic, it makes one cringe. If the passenger car driver was aware of the increased stopping distance required to stop a commercial vehicle compared to a passenger car or pickup truck, they would never […]
Statistics show that up to 32 million people a day travel by some sort of bus—be it a school bus, city bus, charter bus, or Greyhound. The minimum number of injury and fatality accidents seems to indicate that bus travel is relatively safe. Even so, there are measures that potential bus travelers can take to […]
Commercial vehicles are obviously much larger than a typical passenger car or pickup truck, and they operate much differently. While a passenger car generally weighs 5000 pounds or less, a big rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The gross axle weight rating on a tractor-trailer is the maximum weight that an axle is designed […]
Large gigantic trucks, 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and other huge vehicles are mainly used to transport heavy cargo or materials from one place to another. Similarly, a large truck is a vehicle that weighs 10,000 pounds or more. Commercial drivers or truck drivers are responsible for the load or cargo during transportation. And there have been incidents […]
The bottom line is that there is expected to be an increase in the number of semi-trucks with whom other drivers will be sharing the road over the next decade. In light of this reality, it is prudent to learn the best and safest way to do so… 1. Be aware that the semi-truck driver […]
